Council working closely with police to clampdown on fly-tipping
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is working closely with South Wales Police to deter would-be fly-tippers who are intending to dispose of waste illegally during the coronavirus lockdown.
A number of individuals have already been stopped for undertaking unessential trips and, as a consequence, have been successfully prevented from fly-tipping waste. The Council is also taking action to prosecute residents who have illegally fly-tipped during the restrictions on travel.
Due to the outbreak of the virus, the Council has been forced to make a number of service changes in order to redeploy staff to ensure that the key frontline services which support our most vulnerable are able to continue operating. As a part of this, the Council’s six Community Recycling Centres have been closed to the public, and residents are asked to patiently keep hold of any waste or items until normal services resume.
The Council is already investigating a number of fly-tipping instances across the County Borough and is continuing to uphold its zero-tolerance approach. The Authority’s parking enforcement vehicles have also been drafted in to support these efforts. Additionally, the Authority is working closely with South Wales Police to deter offenders through stopping motorists with waste at a time when non-essential travel has been banned as the country tries to contain the coronavirus.
Nigel Wheeler, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Group Director for Prosperity, Development and Frontline Services, said: “It is truly beyond belief that some individuals are intent on disposing of their waste illegally during an unprecedented national health emergency, and are flouting a number of rules – including undertaking non-essential travel.
“We are asking the public to bear with us at this extremely difficult time and reiterate that we have closed the CRCs in the interests of public safety – both in terms of the social distancing requirements and to allow our staff to be redirected toward supporting the most vulnerable in our communities.
“It is selfish, irresponsible and dangerous for individuals to fly-tip – especially at this time and I can assure the public that we will, in conjunction with South Wales Police, be taking the most stringent action available to us to ensure that those responsible are given the maximum penalties. We are asking the public to be vigilant and report any instances of fly-tipping to assist us in combating these illegal acts.”
Aberdare Flytipping WHY?
